A West Texas native, Vernon was born in Clyde, Texas on February 2, 1920. He grew up on the farm and was no stranger to hard work. At the age of 19, Vernon began working at Consolidated Aircraft in Ft. Worth, where he built B-24 airplanes. At the age of 24, while working at Dyess Air Force Base, Vernon was called up for service by the United States Army during the height of World War II. As a member of the Tough Ombres, 357th Infantry Regiment, 90th Infantry Division, he fought in the Central Europe and Rhineland Campaigns. Vernon was shot and wounded in action in Darmstadt, Germany on March 24, 1945. For his bravery during combat, Vernon was awarded several commendations, including 2 Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart.
After the war, he worked as a mechanic and auto body repair until his retirement in 1973. Shortly after retirement, Vernon moved to East Texas, where he resided for almost 50 years in the communities of Canton, Athens, Ben Wheeler, and Tyler.
His hobbies included flying his Stinson L-5 Sentinel World War II era plane, flying model airplanes, gardening, woodworking, camping with the Rose City Good Sam’s RV Club, spending time with family, and playing 42.
Vernon’s was a man of tremendous faith and was a member of the United Church of God in Big Sandy.
Vernon is preceded in death by his parents, Charlie Henry and Etta May Ellison; siblings, Lela May, Leona, Effie Faye, Maudie, Ben, Phillip, Bill, and James; spouses Lucille Mitchell, Cleo Merk, and Edith Jones; children Chuck Ellison and infant daughter Sheila Jo Ellison.
He is survived by his wife of 10 years, Shirley Rice Rampy of Tyler; daughter, Patricia Williams and husband, Gene of Mabank; grandchildren, Bill Shelburn and wife, Misti of Waxahachie, Denise Shelburn Allen of Canton, Shane Ellison and wife, Jennie of Durham, NC, Joshua Ellison and wife, Rachel of Aqaba, Jordan; 8 great grandchildren and 1 great, great grandchild; stepchildren Tracey Wright and husband, Jim of Branson, MO, Douglas Merk and wife, Coleen of Princeton, Jackie Jones and wife, Wanda of Ben Wheeler, Kathleen Segall and husband, Stuart of Burlington, WA, Shannon Houghtaling of Tyler and Royce Rampy of Denton.
Visitation will be Sunday, January 3, 2021, at Eubank Haven of Memories Memorial Park in Canton at 1 p.m. at the graveside, with the service immediately following at 2 p.m. This is an outdoor service, and the family respectfully requests attendees to wear a mask and observe pandemic precautions.
Vernon will be lying in repose on Saturday afternoon at the Eubank Funeral Home for visitors who do not plan to attend his service on Sunday.
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